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VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE PROGRAM - CLINICAL SERVICES
VOV offers a wide range of services to held people, groups, and
communities understand and deal with traumatic events. Our efforts
cover the areas of crisis response and intervention, assessments,
and longer term clinical care to trauma victims, including groups
for people affected by trauma.
Current programs are as follows:
Clinical care at VOV is guided by an ecological view of psychological
trauma, and a "stages by dimensions" understanding of
trauma recovery. We understand that people who suffer violence are
not alone; they live in a network of relationships and communities
which may serve to aid in their healing.
Our "stages by dimensions" model of recovery identifies
various dimensions of people's lives that are affected by violence
and abuse and in which healing work may need to be focused. It also
means that healing occurs in stages, so we focus first on securing
and maintaining personal safety, then on dealing with the major
effects of violence, and eventually move to forming new, more empowered
relationships with others.
Many of our programs rely on grant funding to help communities and
community settings afflicted by violence.
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VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE - GENERAL SERVICES
People who have been victimized sometimes feel isolated and alone,
reluctant to reach out to others. But reaching out is important,
and seeking help is part of the healing process.
To help those in need, VOV offers confidential services to victims,
families, friends, and witnesses. These services include:
- Crisis Intervention and Support. VOV staff respond within
72 hours and remain available throughout the first weeks and months
of recovery.
- Psychotherapy. Our expert staff will evaluate and assess
patients and provide ongoing psychotherapy to help them cope with
their experiences.
- Group Programs. There are a wide range of psychotherapy
groups available for adults dealing with the after effects of
trauma.
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Call
617-591-6033 to make a referral or schedule an initial appointment
with the VOV team.
VOV
Brochure
VOV
Groups
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COMMUNITY CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM (CCRT)
Crime and violence affect entire communities. Violent events have
a traumatic impact on victims, witnesses, families, friends, coworkers,
and neighbors.
CCRT helps community members cope with traumatic and violent events
by offering short-term crisis intervention and consultation services
to affected communities.
Because each event is unique, CCRT tailors its services by working
closely with members of the community to understand local needs
and develop response plans.
CCRT Services
- Help communities plan and implement their own crisis response
efforts
- Provide community "debriefing" meetings for those
directed by a traumatic event. These meetings help people regain
a sense of control over their lives and help foster community-wide
coping and support
- Training local service providers in understanding the psychological
impact of acute and chronic trauma
- Follow-up assistance to affected communities
About the CCRT
The CCRT was founded in 1988 in response to an absence of coordinated
services for community groups traumatized by violence.
The team brings together representatives from mental health, social
service, criminal justice, medical, religious, educational and other
human services agencies in the Greater Boston area. All agencies
participate on a voluntary basis.
This allows CCRT to plan responses to different events to address
the specific needs of the individuals affected.
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Community
Crisis Response Team
26
Central St., Somerville, MA 02143
617-498-1180
CCRT
Brochure
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VICTIM ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TEAM (VAST)
If you or someone you love has been affected by violence, hatred
or abuse, the Victim Advocacy and Support Team is here to help you
rebuild your life
Violence or abuse can happen to anyone. Victims of violence or abuse
sometimes feel isolated and alone, reluctant to reach out to others.
You may experience feelings of fear, numbness and shock, helplessness,
anger, anxiety, depression and even guilt or self-blame. You may
have questions about how to cope with your physical injuries, how
to heal from the emotional impact of your experiences, how to file
a report with the police, and what the court process would be like
for you. Or you may just want someone to talk to - someone who understands.
VAST - Who We Are
We are advocates, experienced in the areas of trauma, victimization,
and the criminal justice system. We work directly with victims to
make sure that they have access to community resources, medical
services and the courts. Our services are always confidential and
are provided at no cost.
What We Do
- We provide crisis counseling and support for you and your loved
ones
- We assist with safety planning for you and your family
- We act as a liaison with social service agencies, the courts
and police
- We make appropriate referrals to health, legal and other community
services to ensure that each client gets the best possible care,
advice, and support
- We assist with filing for Victim Compensation
- We offer training and consultation services to the community
This program is supported by The Massachusetts Office for Victims
Assistance (MOVA) through the 1984 VOCA grant from OVC, OJP, and
the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Victim
Advocacy and Support Team
26
Central St., Somerville, MA 02143
617-665-2992
VAST
Brochure
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CENTER FOR HOMICIDE BEREAVEMENT
No time to say goodbye…when a loved one is murdered.
The Center for Homicide Bereavement is committed to supporting
those who are suffering the loss of a loved one. Too often, homicide
survivors are left to both grieve an unexpected loss but also to
come to terms with the violent and intentional nature of a loved
one's death.
Survivors often feel alone in their struggle and their grief. Family
and friends sometimes don't seem to understand or know how to offer
support.
Program Services
Services are available for adults children, and families and are
free of charge, They include:
- Crisis intervention and ongoing counseling for families and
people of all ages
- Support groups that offer children and adult survivors a safe
place to receive support, share concerns, and find new ways of
coping
- Victim advocacy, consultation, and support
- Information on and referral to other services
This program is supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victims
Assistance (MOVA) through the 1984 VOCA grant from OVC, OJP, and
the U.S. Department of Justice.
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Contact
Holly Aldrich, LICSW at 6517-591-6123
CHB
Brochure
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FIRST RESPONDERS WELLNESS PROGRAM (FRWP)
The First Responder Wellness Program is funded by an American Red
Cross September 11 recovery grant to provide services that promote
wellness and contribute to the prevention of post traumatic stress
and secondary trauma in first responders and mental health providers
impacted by the events of 9/11/01.
The FRWP was initially co-developed in 2002 by the CHA Victims
of Violence Program and members of the Cambridge Fire Department
and Local 30 to provide Wellness services to first responders impacted
by the events of 9/11/01.
Since January 2005, the program has also offered workshops to 9/11
providers who worked with bereaved families and first responders
through the ARC September 11 recovery grant.
Problems experienced by First Responders
Surveys of First Responders, show that over 70% of respondents
reported noticing changes in themselves in the immediate aftermath
of their 9/11 work.
The most commonly endorsed problems included difficulty separating
their professional and personal lives, feeling preoccupied with
and/or over-identified with their clients, feeling jumpy or easily
startled, experiencing sleep difficulties, dealing with unwanted
frightening thoughts and images, and feeling disconnected from others.
Overwhelming grief, fear of flying, fear of separation from family
members, and activation of personal trauma histories were also reported.
The nature of this disaster has been one in which individual clients
have had multiple and diverse needs. These issues underscore the
importance of effective coordination of services and
advocacy to ensure appropriate and adequate access, as well as the
importance of communication through well established networking
systems.
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First
Responders Wellness Program
Lynda
Bolduc-Hicks, PhD
857-523-0923
Email
FWRP
Brochure
First
Responders Wellness Newsletter
Summer
2006 (PDF)
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